Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully engaged in the present moment, aware of where you are, what you’re experiencing, and the physical space you’re inhabiting. Specific examples of mindfulness techniques include meditation, breathing exercises, and gratitude or self-compassion practices.
Mindfulness Practices
Metta Meditation.
In this form of meditation, we direct love and kindness to the self. Then through a sequence of expansion, we direct love and kindness to those we love. To those we are neutral towards. To those we have difficulty with and then towards all beings everywhere without distinction.
Gratitude.
Gratitude allows us to view the blessings we already have in our lives. Through a gratitude practice, we can start to have more positive emotions, improve our health, deal with adversity, and build stronger relationships.
Pranayama.
The breath is the first and last thing we do in our lives. In this ancient practice of controlling the breath, we learn to pay attention to our breathing patterns. A sustained pranayama practice can stimulate the parasympathetic system thus counteracting our flight and fight response.